The SINGA Award (Singapore International Graduate Award) is a fully funded PhD scholarship for international students who want to do research in science or engineering in Singapore. It is run by the A*STAR Graduate Academy in coordination with NUS, NTU and SMU. What makes it different from a normal university PhD offer is the structure: you enrol at a Singapore university for your coursework and degree, and you also carry out research with an attachment at an A*STAR institute.
That structure tells you who it suits. If you are a Pakistani graduate in physics, chemistry, biology, computer science or an engineering discipline, and you already know you want a research career, this is one of the cleaner PhD funding routes in Asia. If you are interested in business, social sciences, humanities or law, skip it. The award does not cover other fields, and it does not fund master's degrees. You can read the full scholarship details on our scholarship page before you start planning.
The SINGA Award in one table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Level | PhD only |
| Fields | Science and engineering only |
| Deadline | Around December 1 (main round) and around June 1 (second round) |
| Country | Singapore |
| Provider | A*STAR Graduate Academy, with NUS, NTU and SMU |
| Official site | a-star.edu.sg |
The deadlines above are approximate. A*STAR publishes the exact dates for each round, so confirm them on the official portal before you build your timeline around them.
A stipend that rises after your qualifying exam
The funding package covers full tuition, so you do not pay university fees. On top of that you get a monthly stipend, which is commonly cited at around S$2,200. Once you pass your PhD qualifying exam, the stipend is commonly cited as rising to around S$2,700 a month.
There are also two one-time payments:
- An airfare grant, commonly cited at up to S$1,500
- A settlement grant, commonly cited at around S$1,000
Notice the wording. These figures are "commonly cited" amounts, not guaranteed numbers, and stipend rates can be revised. Treat them as a planning guide and check the current figures in your offer letter or on the A*STAR site. The settlement grant is a one-off amount meant to help you get started, so do not count on it to cover months of expenses while you wait for the first stipend payment. Arriving with some savings of your own is sensible.
The rise after the qualifying exam is a real incentive to clear that exam on schedule. Students who treat the first year casually and delay the exam stay on the lower rate for longer.
What the A*STAR research attachment means for you
Most PhD scholarships fund you to sit inside one university department. SINGA pairs your university study with hands-on research at an A*STAR institute. A*STAR runs a network of research institutes with an applied focus, so your PhD work is likely to sit closer to industry and practical problems than a purely academic project would.
For a Pakistani student this matters in two ways. First, it gives you lab experience and a research network in Singapore, which is an English-speaking, multicultural place to live and work. Second, it shapes what the selection panel wants to see. They are looking for people who want to do research, not people who want a foreign degree for its own sake.
Who the selection panel is looking for
The published eligibility requirements are short:
- A strong academic record at Bachelor's or Master's level
- A genuine intent to pursue a PhD in science or engineering
The award is aimed at international students. The source does not list specific nationalities, so check the current eligibility rules for Pakistani applicants on the official portal before you apply. No minimum CGPA, age limit or specific English test score is stated in the information we have, so do not assume a cut-off either way. If a number matters to your decision, look for it on the A*STAR site.
"Strong record" is vague on purpose. In practice it means your transcripts need to stand out, and your research statement needs to show you understand what doing a PhD involves. Applicants with a Master's degree, a thesis or a published paper have something concrete to point to. Applicants coming straight from a Bachelor's degree can still apply, but they need to show research interest through final-year projects, lab work or research assistant roles.
The phrase "genuine intent" is worth taking seriously. If your statement reads like you picked science because it was the only funded option, that will show.
The six documents to prepare
The application asks for the following:
- Transcripts
- Degree certificates
- Recommendation letters
- Research proposal or statement
- English proficiency proof (if applicable)
- Passport
Pakistani students often leave degree verification and attestation to the last minute. If your university or the portal asks for verified copies, start early. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains how that process works.
Whether you need English proficiency proof depends on your situation, and the source does not say which test or score is required. Check the portal for the current rule, and if your degree was taught in English, find out whether a medium of instruction letter is accepted.
The research proposal or statement is the document that carries the most weight after your grades. Make it specific. Name the area you want to work in, explain what you have already done in it, and say why an A*STAR research attachment fits that interest. Your recommendation letters should come from people who have seen you do research or technical work, such as a thesis supervisor or a lab head, rather than a senior professor who only taught you one course.
For a general list of what scholarship committees expect, see our documents checklist for international scholarships.
From online form to offer: the three stages
- Submit the online application through the A*STAR portal.
- Go through screening and, if shortlisted, an interview.
- Receive an offer that combines university enrolment with an A*STAR research attachment.
The interview is where many applicants lose ground. Expect questions about your past research and the area you want to work in. If you cannot explain your own final-year project or thesis clearly, practise that before anything else. A clear, honest answer about what went wrong in a project is better than a polished but vague one.
Two rounds a year, and why that helps
SINGA runs two application rounds. The main round closes around December 1 and is for the August intake. A second round closes around June 1. The source does not state the intake for the second round, so confirm it on the portal.
The practical benefit is simple. If you miss the December deadline, or your final transcript is not ready in time, you have not necessarily lost a year. You can prepare properly and apply in the June round instead. That said, do not treat the second round as a reason to rush the first one. Submitting a weak application early does not help you.
A realistic plan for a Pakistani applicant is to start drafting the research statement and approaching referees well before your chosen deadline, and to have transcripts and degree documents ready well before that.
Mistakes that cost applicants this award
- Applying for a field outside science and engineering. It will not be considered.
- Writing a generic research statement that could be sent to any university in any country.
- Choosing referees for their titles instead of how well they know your work.
- Assuming the stipend figures are fixed. They are commonly cited amounts and can change.
- Forgetting that this is a research-first award. If you want a taught degree or a quick qualification, look elsewhere.
One more point on what happens after the PhD. There is no formal bond or return-service requirement, but there is a strong institutional preference for scholars to continue in research afterward. If you already plan to leave research for a non-technical job, think about whether this award fits you.
If you are comparing options in the same country, see all Singapore scholarships in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the SINGA Award for a PhD in economics or management?
No. SINGA is restricted to science and engineering PhD candidates. Other fields and other degree levels are not eligible.
Is there a bond after I finish the PhD?
There is no formal bond, though there is a strong institutional preference for scholars to continue in research afterward.
Can I apply with only a Bachelor's degree?
The eligibility wording asks for a strong Bachelor's or Master's academic record, so a Bachelor's degree is not ruled out. Your application will need to show clear research interest and ability.
How much is the monthly stipend?
It is commonly cited at around S$2,200 a month, rising to around S$2,700 after you pass the qualifying exam. Confirm the current rates with A*STAR, as these figures can change.
What if I miss the December deadline?
There is a second round with a deadline around June 1, so a missed December deadline is not necessarily a lost year. Check the exact dates on the official portal.
Which universities are involved?
The award is run by the A*STAR Graduate Academy in coordination with NUS, NTU and SMU.
Before you apply, check the current deadlines, stipend rates and eligibility rules on the official A*STAR website, and keep the full SINGA Award details handy while you prepare.